Marathon Weekend 2017!

[pixarmom]

ATTQOTW:
Breakfast: Rainforest Cafe, AK (seriously underrated)
Lunch: Sci-Fi Drive-In, HS
Dinner: Rose & Crown, Epcot (finished with Illuminations over Irish Coffee and Jaffa Tarts)
Snack: Mac n' Cheese from The Friar's Nook, MK

Contributed question: Based on your experience and/or expectations, where/what is your lowest point in the Disney Marathon and what one thing could be waiting for you there that would lift your spirits the most?

This is a GREAT question and I'm looking forward to all the responses. I ran the WDW Marathon in 2015 and I honestly can't recall a low point. Not that I didn't have any - I just can't remember them. I guess that's why I'm running Dopey in a couple months! In any event, the responses to your question might help jog my memory and help me prepare.

Second answer would be if I could see my puppers (particularly Little Dog) somewhere between the exit of WWoS and the entrance to DHS. I LOVE seeing dogs out on the course - I will legit pet every dog I see (with the owner's permission, of course!) on Disneyland courses - and that's what I feel like I'm missing the most on WDW courses.

Puppies!!! My husband brings our puppy to all my local races and I love seeing them out on the course. (Our teens are still asleep when I'm running and our youngest has been known to yell complaints to me as a spectator, so it's just my husband and the puppy now.) I SO miss the puppy at non-local races!!!

 

[Ariel484]

Contributed question: Based on your experience and/or expectations, where/what is your lowest point in the Disney Marathon and what one thing could be waiting for you there that would lift your spirits the most?

I'll answer for each race since this thread is for the whole weekend

5K: none! The first mile is boring and then after that it's Epcot fun

10K: the first half is pretty boring since it's all highway. The second half is awesome, so knowing that is coming helps!

Half marathon: leaving the Magic Kingdom SUCKS. Because #1 you're leaving the Magic Kingdom, and #2 you're heading to Cone Alley, which is the friggin worst. 1 lane to run in, blech! BUT - you get through that stretch and then you can see Epcot approaching, and the last mile through Epcot is fun.

Marathon: leaving Animal Kingdom. Almost 10 miles with no parks and ESPN is in there (in 2015 there were no characters there...I'm hoping there will be in 2017 like there were this year). But once you get through that stretch it's DHS, Epcot and the finish!

It lifts my spirits just knowing what is coming at the ends of these races. And when my husband travels with me, he waits to see me near the International Gateway. Seeing him is the best. If he had the dog with him I'd probably cry from happiness at seeing both of them.

 

[FFigawi]

Contributed question: Based on your experience and/or expectations, where/what is your lowest point in the Disney Marathon and what one thing could be waiting for you there that would lift your spirits the most?

The stretch between Animal Kingdom and ESPN is the part I like the least. Not many character stops, though the gravediggers are always fun, and the road isn't very scenic either.

 

[Keels]

The stretch between Animal Kingdom and ESPN is the part I like the least. Not many character stops, though the gravediggers are always fun, and the road isn't very scenic either.

Hence ... FRENCH FRIES!

 

[ZellyB]

I also agree that the section after Animal Kingdom is the worst. The first year I ran it I really hated WWoS, but the 2 I've run since I haven't minded as much.

Seeing my kids along that stretch would be awesome. My girls were waiting to see us in Epcot when we ran in 2015 and it was such a boost to see them. Plus they had a pretzel from Germany ready for us!!

 

[Keels]

I know I'm in the minority, but I really didn't mind the WWoS ... I actually liked winding through the property (it seemed to make the mileage go by quicker), I appreciated the change-up in running surface. And, frankly, I liked that there were plenty of things like poles/tables/fences/etc. to use for balance to help me stretch as a short break.

Plus, I was unfortunately worried about being swept (first marathon and all that ...), so it was nice to see where I stood as I made my way through WWoS.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Contributed question: Based on your experience and/or expectations, where/what is your lowest point in the Disney Marathon and what one thing could be waiting for you there that would lift your spirits the most?

Lowest point: The early stretches before MK and after leaving MK. There are so many more miles to go! At some point I realize I am going to finish and that feels good, but the early portion is always the toughest mental challenge for me.

What would lift my spirits: My dog and my nieces and nephews.

 

[tigger536]

Four parks, four meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack), what do you choose? You have to use each park, so no doubling up on Epcot or something like that. No resorts!

Breakfast: Crystal Palace, MK
Lunch: San Angel Inn, Epcot
Dinner: Brown Derby, DHS
Snack: Dole Whip with rum, AK

 

[girliea]

Half marathon: leaving the Magic Kingdom SUCKS. Because #1 you're leaving the Magic Kingdom, and #2 you're heading to Cone Alley, which is the friggin worst. 1 lane to run in, blech! BUT - you get through that stretch and then you can see Epcot approaching, and the last mile through Epcot is fun.

So question for all of you past Goofy and Dopey runners: @Ariel484 mentions the above highlighted for low point of the half (and I agree after running PHM), so is this area NOT an issue for the marathon too?

 

[Ariel484]

So question for all of you past Goofy and Dopey runners: @Ariel484 mentions the above highlighted for low point of the half (and I agree after running PHM), so is this area NOT an issue for the marathon too?

I think it's there too, I just forgot to mention it.

 

[girliea]

Aw man....I was hoping!

 

[jeanigor]

So question for all of you past Goofy and Dopey runners: @Ariel484 mentions the above highlighted for low point of the half (and I agree after running PHM), so is this area NOT an issue for the marathon too?

It is an issue, but it pales in comparison to after Animal Kingdom.

 

[PrincessV]

Contributed question: Based on your experience and/or expectations, where/what is your lowest point in the Disney Marathon and what one thing could be waiting for you there that would lift your spirits the most?

Heading into WWOS, so around mile 17ish? It had nothing to do with WWOS, which I actually like and perked me back up, and everything to do with being 100% OVER being part of a moving herd for so long. I get very overwhelmed by too many people/too much noise and by that point, I'd have done anything to run the rest of the race on my own in the woods! Since that wasn't an option, I texted a string of expletives to a kind and supportive friend. I highly recommend having a friend like that on call for such duties as needed.

 

[rteetz]

I didn't find cone alley all that bad. I went in with a good mindset about it because I've heard so much about cone alley. That's where I met golfer goofy!

 

[Dan1]

Appreciate advice from those who have been there / done that on (1) where to watch runners, and (2) how to get there.
DW is running the marathon. When she ran the 1/2 in 2015, I was able to go from start area of Epcot to Cinderella's castle in MK in time to see her run by and for her to see me.... and then returning in time to see her return to Epcot.

What are the areas of the Marathon that I could get to to see DW run by and how best to get there (car or Disney transportation)?

It's her first full and I want to be as supportive as possible.
Thanks very much in advance.

 

[TeeterTots]

I'm curious to learn how you all determined you were ready for a marathon (i.e. How many halfs or challenges) and then on to dopey?

I'm confident I could run the 5K, 10K and half consecutively (although I've not ran a challenge) but the marathon (never having ran one) on the last day worries me.

 

[FFigawi]

I'm curious to learn how you all determined you were ready for a marathon (i.e. How many halfs or challenges) and then on to dopey?

I'm confident I could run the 5K, 10K and half consecutively (although I've not ran a challenge) but the marathon (never having ran one) on the last day worries me.

I had never run farther than a 10k when I signed up for my first full. I wanted to do it, so I did. I didn't give any thought to being ready because I knew my training would have me well prepared.

 

[MissLiss279]

I'm curious to learn how you all determined you were ready for a marathon (i.e. How many halfs or challenges) and then on to dopey?

I'm confident I could run the 5K, 10K and half consecutively (although I've not ran a challenge) but the marathon (never having ran one) on the last day worries me.

The first time I ran a half, I thought there was no way I would ever run a marathon (that was October 2014). By December of that year the prices for the local marathon were going up, and I signed up! I have a local running group that I knew I would be able to do long runs with. Before I ever ran that marathon, I signed up for Dopey 2016. I had thought if I was training for one, why not keep training for the challenge?? I had a good training plan, and I knew if I could stick to that training I would be fine for the Dopey. And since October 2015, I have now run 5 marathons.

I think if you know you can stick to training (which long runs will take up a good portion of one or two of your training days), you should be fine. You just need to make sure you ramp up miles slowly to try and prevent injury.

 

[camaker]

I'm curious to learn how you all determined you were ready for a marathon (i.e. How many halfs or challenges) and then on to dopey?

I'm confident I could run the 5K, 10K and half consecutively (although I've not ran a challenge) but the marathon (never having ran one) on the last day worries me.

I don't think there's any clear way to know for certain that you are ready for a full marathon or Goofy/Dopey. My suggestion is to pick a solid, proven training plan that you can complete and trust in that to have you ready. Some people feel like they need to have completed the full distance in training. Some don't. A lot depends on your mental strength and ability to deal with that ambiguity.

For a first time Goofy/Dopey I do suggest sticking with a marathon training plan. The challenge specific plans I've seen contain what I'd consider extremely high mileage for new(ish) runners and I worry that can lead to training burnout, overtraining and injury. The consensus around here seems to be that if you can run/train for a marathon you can run the challenge.

Overall, just have fun with the training and then the races. Don't let the self doubts, and they'll be there, get to you. You'll be amazed at what you can do when you get out there on the race days once the excitement and adrenaline are flowing!

 

[Nole95]

After I ran my first half (W&D 2012), I thought I would never want or be able to do a full. Six months later, DW and I signed up for the 2014 Disney Marathon. When I finished that, I was thinking to myself, never again. Ended up running Goofy a year later and just finished running my fourth marathon this past weekend in Savannah.